Amélie Lyon

ESCP Business School

Age: 43

“People-first leader, passionate about building bridges, shaping teams, and turning ideas into real ventures.”

Hometown: Paris, France – currently living in Brussels, Belgium

Family Members: Husband (executive), two daughters (8 and 11)

Fun fact about yourself: I’ve changed countries three times in four years—turns out I pack faster than I think.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Master’s Degree in Sociology – Sorbonne University

Postgraduate Degree in Human Resources (DESS) – Sorbonne University

Where are you currently working? Group HR Director – Theodo (Tech company headquartered in Paris)

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles:

• Former HR Director, at ACTED global humanitarian NGO, leading HR in 20+ countries at age 28. Now Member.
• Member of “The Third,” a women’s empowerment club and network in Dakar, Senegal
• Co-founder of Re-New, a company launched with two EMBA classmates
• Committed EMBA peer connector and informal mentor within the cohort

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Co-founding Re-New with two classmates—born from our international consulting project. We transformed a class assignment into a real entrepreneurial venture focused on repreneurship. I’m proud not just of the business idea, but of the trust and shared vision that emerged from months of collaboration.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Becoming HR Director at ACTED at just 28, managing global operations in highly complex environments. It shaped my leadership, tested my resilience, and showed me how to lead with both heart and grit.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Laure Boscolo, from the Leadership class. She was inspiring and incredibly sharp. Her ability to get us thinking—collectively and deeply—about what leadership truly means was both practical and thought-provoking. She helped me put words on concepts I had long felt but never fully named.

Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? ESCP stood out for its European footprint, flexibility, and human values. I remember an alumni telling me during admissions that he co-founded a business with a classmate—it sounded far-fetched. Years later, I’m doing just that. This program didn’t just shape my thinking—it reshaped my life.

What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? Breaking silos, building trust across departments, and coaching my team to lead with empathy. Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a connection.

Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education?  Two daughters. A demanding executive role. A husband in a leadership position. Living in Brussels with a job in Paris. I had three full-time roles. I survived thanks to meticulous planning, emotional honesty at home, and the invisible support of an incredible cohort. It wasn’t perfect—but it was possible.

What was your biggest regret in business school? At this stage, I don’t really have regrets. Maybe the only challenge was not being able to anticipate my schedule far enough in advance to attend electives in China or Lebanon—or to be physically present in Brazil for the final seminar due to professional obligations.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Rana El Bikay is one of my peers who, like me, juggles a job, kids, and an active partner—but also lives far from Europe. She was elected Class Rep and is always present, thoughtful, and deeply engaged in women’s empowerment. I admire her immensely—as I do all working mothers in our cohort.

What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I wanted real human connection. Not just Zoom rooms, but shared dinners, midnight deadlines, and post-lecture conversations.

How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? Personal investment. My husband and I viewed it as a joint decision and a shared project—a long-term investment in both my growth and our future.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I want to take on a leadership role in a company with real economic impact—either in tech or SME transmission. It would be a place where I can do the following:

1. Keep meeting and connecting inspiring people.
2. Show that yes, as a woman, you can have a career, kids, a family, and friends—if that’s what you want.

“I came to ESCP for a diploma. I leave with a company, a community—and the fierce belief that business can be both bold and kind.”

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